Geek Article System 3.52

IMPORTANT:
Please note that I can no longer support this project. Primarily as it is designed for vb3.0.x and I no longer use that version (im obviously on vb3.5x ). There is a version for vb3.5 however its a commercial script. This project is left here for the community.
-----------------------
HowdA All.

The GAS3 system is a comprehensive article system that completely integrates into vB3.

News:

• Updated 3/08/05 to version 3.53 for compatability with vb3.08
• Updated 13/05/05 to version 3.52!!! Posts for 3.52 to integrate with GAL4.0 start here

History

Originally, I looked into other article systems to integrate with my forums but just got irritated over and over again as I found the other offering out there very limiting for my needs. I wanted to use my members usergroup permissions, the search facility (so when someone did a search for 'bob' both articles AND threads appeared on one page), I also wanted wysiwyg editing and vBs attachment system. Well, I accomplished 99% of my needs with the Geek Article System 2.0
Why 3.0? While the 2.0 was fine for my needs, many users began asking for a far more complex system that took the beauty of 2.0 and added popular features in the other article systems.

Here are the features in a nutshell:

• Integrates 100% into vB. No importing forums or creating special groups. Simply mark forum as an 'Article' forum and instantly all threads become articles. Dont like it anymore? Simply remove the ID and the therads and forums go back to normal.
• Whatever you can do in a thread or post, you can do with the GAS3 system (uploading attachments, smiles, BBcode, various editors, yadayadayada)
• Adding on the above point: all the differing vB editors (wysiwyg, etc..), usergroup permissions (heck - anything you can set for a forum you can set in this - AND MORE!) why> because it is totally integrated!
• Create multiple pages in your post by simply putting [BREAK] anywhere in your post.
• The first thumbnail in an article substitutes the posters avatar (switchable via admincp)
• Upload header images and have them auto resize
• Choose header images from a global (or forum specific) gallery
• Integrated article byline.
• Synopsis - allows users to give a summary that appears on the new forumdisplay
• New forumdisplay shows article header image and synopsis (if no synopsis then the first X amount of characters from the article is used)
• Synopisis allows BBCode
• Integrates with the Geek AutoLink system (optional)
• Allows you to post as other users
• Article sidebar that shows the article rating, your rating, the rating form, article tools, and article attachments (all toggable via admincp)
• An auto installer/upgrader/uninstaller that makes all file edits for you!
• A whole host of other tiddlybits that I wont bore you with

Special thanks goes to rlamego, peterska2, Snow, Gldtn, and Magic Spark for private Beta testing this for me. Couldnt of happened without them!

Change log
13.05.05 - updated to 3.52
All this does is update GAS for the GAL4.0 integration.
To update, simply replace your existing functions_geekarticles.php with the one in the latest package.

18.3.05 - updated to 3.51
This really just fixes a couple of mega minor bugs.
Added new default icon per forum functionality (see readme)
Wrote a real README.
Wrote a seperate 3.5x upgrade script. Users of 3.5x should run admincp/gas3_upgrade.php

16.3.05 - updated to 3.50
Loads of new features and a new installer that makes the file changes for you.
New forumdisplay
Uploading of images for your header
Synopsis box
yadayadayda

10.2.05 - updated to 3.02
Fixed typo in readme (step 2.6 referenced $articlebyline instead of $GAS_byline). This bug fixes the disappearing byline when editing an article.
To upgrade - edit your editpost template and search for $articlebyline then replace it with $GAS_byline

Importers
I have made an importer for v3articles. Technically speaking, you dont have to strictly have GAS3 installed to use the importer (though it is ideal). What it does is essentailly import v3articles, comments, ratings, and attachments into existing forums as new threads, replies, threadratings, and post attachments. The idea is that you install GAS3, create the forums to house your articles, and then import your existing v3articles into them (but as I said, you can simply import v3articles into normal forums without having GAS3 installed).
There is also a rollback feature in case you change your mind or experience a problem with the import. Your v3articles installation isnt touched. In fact, no v3articles are harmed in the process

Known issues:

• none that I am aware of.

Demos: (note that I have a custom skin, so your results will be ever so slightly different)
http://www.thenailgeek.com/showthread.php?t=11287
http://www.thenailgeek.com/showthread.php?t=8801 - pages with comments (click View Comments to see comments only)


Difficulty - EASY
Time - about 5 minutes
File modifications? a few but now all done automatically for you

Change log:

Updated to 3.01 Feb 7th
Fixed a couple template errors and minor readme instructions


Instructions

Click install. I have busted my butt over the past few weeks to do this and all I ask is that you click install if you use it

• Download the package and unzip.
• Follow the README!
• Ther installer does all the work for you
• When done, go into your admncp, and adjust your settings

Troubleshooting:

• No phrases after install? This happens a lot with many installers for some bizzare reason. All you have to do is do a phrase search for GAS_ , edit the phrase (dont change it), then save it. Bingo - all your phrases appear.

Also:

I would therefore backup your DB, your styles, and any of the files the README asks you to change.

nJoy

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Conlons

Installing the Arcade on 3.08 working through the hacks is fine. but when I get to the Template Modification, I then get the following error:

"Parse error: parse error, unexpected T_CONSTANT_ENCAPSED_STRING, expecting ')' in /usr/local/apache/share/legacy/c/o/conlons/httpdocs/www.conlons.co.uk/forum/includes/init.php on line 544"
I then cannot see the Forum at all. It did work on the previous version of VBulletin. Can someone please help

er. Arcade? Do you have the right thread?

[Conlons]

is this not the Arcade thread?
Ca n anyone help me

[Ronin Six]

Sounds like a sweet hack Geek. Just a few questions before I commit to an install.

Regarding articles/posts, our all originate from within our General Discussion forums... and from there I feature certain ones on a Front Page News forum (in a round about way) by Moving them to the Front Page News forum. Most traffic occurs on the General Discussion forums, so I then move (with a Redirect) the featured thread from the Front Page News forum back to the General Discussion forum. Essentially my Front Page News forum is almost compeletely redirects, where I edited the forum display bit to disable the display of the Moved phrase.

- I just want to see if your hack handles redirected threads in the same way it does normal threads
- Also, since my method of featuring posts on the home page are odd, do you know of a hack that allows threads to exist in 2 different forums (without duplicating the thread)? Most portal hacks require a separate news forum, whereas I want Featured News from the home page to coexist with normal discussion on the General Discussion area.

Thanks!

[Nutz]

Hey There Geek,

Do you have any idea why when users/me upload a new header image it uploads with chmod 600, the dir's are all set to 777 ??

Many Thanks
Mat

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Nutzz

Hey There Geek,

Do you have any idea why when users/me upload a new header image it uploads with chmod 600, the dir's are all set to 777 ??

Many Thanks
Mat

It may have been left over code that tried to chmod the folder, upload the file, then chmod back as a safety mechanism. It shouldnt be causing any problems though

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Ronin Six

Sounds like a sweet hack Geek. Just a few questions before I commit to an install.

Regarding articles/posts, our all originate from within our General Discussion forums... and from there I feature certain ones on a Front Page News forum (in a round about way) by Moving them to the Front Page News forum. Most traffic occurs on the General Discussion forums, so I then move (with a Redirect) the featured thread from the Front Page News forum back to the General Discussion forum. Essentially my Front Page News forum is almost compeletely redirects, where I edited the forum display bit to disable the display of the Moved phrase.

- I just want to see if your hack handles redirected threads in the same way it does normal threads
- Also, since my method of featuring posts on the home page are odd, do you know of a hack that allows threads to exist in 2 different forums (without duplicating the thread)? Most portal hacks require a separate news forum, whereas I want Featured News from the home page to coexist with normal discussion on the General Discussion area.

Thanks!

Ronin, cant really help you there. It handles threads that are in forums set to view articles. Moving and/or copying them about is fine as long as they end up in an 'article' forum.

As far as a suggestion for your news woe, I dont really have one sounds like you need a custom approach (one that could be done through a vbacmps module I would think)

[Nutz]

I found the problem:
To upload the image itwas using "move_uploaded_file" with out chmodding it after it was upload, so I replaced it with @copy which uploads with chmod 644 so now every one can read it

Many Thanks
Mat

[waternut]

Hi there,

Just a question before I try out this interesting add-on.

How would it interfere with the operations of vBadvanced CMPS as I have already installed it already? Anyone has both vBadv CMPS installed and this Geek Article System as well??

Give me a quick reply please... :classic:

-waternut

[Nutz]

I have both installed and its not a prob, i think The Geek even made a addon for the CMPS

Many Thanks
Mat

[Detomah]

Had this installed for a few days now, starting to build my various articles and have to say, I'd put this up as probably the best hack out there (maybe along side the arcade, but that's a different category).

Installed perfectly first time, no problems, easy to use and very practical. It even runs along with god knows how many other hacks I have installed perfectly.

So... Thank you very much for this great hack.